National statistics system needs improvement, should be led by Stats Dept

 

The national statistical system needs to be improved to ensure data synchronisation for the government to formulate policies and make decisions, said Chief Secretary to the Government Mohd Zuki Ali.

He said the government agreed that for the country's statistical system to be enhanced, it should be led by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) which acts as the central agency in coordinating the statistical system.

"DOSM will be responsible for assisting, coordinating, and controlling the production of statistics for ministries, departments, and agencies," he said.

Zuki (above) was delivering a keynote address and officiating the My Local Stats 2020 Seminar: District & Local Statistics Towards Resource Management Efficiency, which was live streamed on the DOSM Facebook page.

He said studies in the future would be controlled to follow the set standards and added that the statistics released would be confirmed by DOSM.

He said granular administrative data is an important source of information for the government because it could reduce dependence on primary data collected by surveys and indirectly, the use of secondary data could reduce costs on data collection.

The reality today is data is not rigid and could be everywhere, he said.

"Ministries, federal and state agencies, local authorities, and government-linked companies (GLCs) have their own database that is stand-alone or in silos.

"These agencies or bodies are not coordinated and their use of methodology, standards, concepts, and definitions may differ at times," he said.

In addition, he said, the government has introduced the Chief Data Officer position in ministries, departments, and agencies under the purview of DOSM, in efforts to develop a systematic mechanism for data coordination, access, and sharing.

"Strengthening the country's statistical system will bring positive results. Among them, it will ensure the availability of more comprehensive data in the government sector in formulating the country's short and long-term policies.

"Apart from that, this will increase the number of analytical experts, related to all economic, social, and demographic fields, who are among the ministries and agencies’ officers," he said.

He added that effective economic and social development plans would positively impact society and could boost the well-being and prosperity of the nation.

"Statistics can eliminate uncertainties and help the government to make decisions based on facts," he said.

- Bernama